Southern 7 sees 200% increase in COVID-19 cases

(WSIL) -- Southern Seven reports 40 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Southern Seven Region and 11 newly recovered cases. That marks more than a 200% increase over last week’s case count.

“This is troubling news for our region,�� said Nathan Ryder, Community Outreach Coordinator for Southern Seven Health Department. “We know that our neighbors in Missouri are struggling with the Delta variant of COVID-19 currently exploding in their state. We are worried about the spillover effect we may begin to see with the large amounts of people in the S7 region who haven’t gotten themselves vaccinated against COVID-19 yet.��

Southern Seven reports 36,562 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the seven county region since vaccine first arrived on December 16, 2020. The average of individuals totally vaccinated in the S7 region is 25.87%.

“If you haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19, you’re putting yourself at high risk with the more contagious and severe Delta variant of COVID that is spreading rapidly,�� said Ryder. “The three vaccines we currently have access to are showing they’re very effective at protecting you and helping to slow the spread of this and other COVID variants. We have plenty of vaccine available at S7HD. Now is the time to schedule yourself to get vaccinated before we see a potential surge.��

Four out of the seven counties in the S7 region have the lowest vaccination rates in Illinois, with less than 25% totally vaccinated for COVID-19. Those counties include Hardin (24.6% totally vaccinated), Pope (23%), Pulaski (22%), and Alexander (14.5%). Residents in all the S7 counties are urged to get vaccinated as soon as possible.